Hanoi Guide, map and photos. boo.com members recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions in Hanoi

Vietnam has it\'s own, specific style - very different from other eastern countries. It\'s worth to see. Our first impression in Hanoi was chaos, noise and lack of driving rules. It\'s really amazing and shocking. The life in Vietnam however is calm and peaceful.People seems to be...more Vietnam has it\'s own, specific style - very different from other eastern countries. It\'s worth to see. Our first impression in Hanoi was chaos, noise and lack of driving rules. It\'s really amazing and shocking. The life in Vietnam however is calm and peaceful.People seems to be pleased and without worries, just enjoying life. Hanoi is good to experience the real vietnamise life. Also recommend Ha Long Bay - great views.close

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by misskasiula3853 – posted on Nov 21, 2007

2

I just really enjoyed everything about Hanoi, from the infinite number of entrepreneurs in this communist country to the seeming nonchalance of pedestrians walking across the swarm of bikers and cars when they go from one sidewalk to the next. It\'s just an awesome city. The water puppets...more I just really enjoyed everything about Hanoi, from the infinite number of entrepreneurs in this communist country to the seeming nonchalance of pedestrians walking across the swarm of bikers and cars when they go from one sidewalk to the next. It\'s just an awesome city. The water puppets are not to be missed! Very unique and interesting show. Didn\'t understand a word of the Vietnamese, but it was funny and entertaining, nonetheless.close

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by justinny – posted on Oct 29, 2007

1

Have to say...didn't really like Hanoi, or Vietnam for that matter. Maybe it was just my experience, but it seemed the people weren't as friendly as surrounding countries - although I have heard this from other people as well. Spent a few days there and it was ok... be careful about rip offs in...more Have to say...didn't really like Hanoi, or Vietnam for that matter. Maybe it was just my experience, but it seemed the people weren't as friendly as surrounding countries - although I have heard this from other people as well. Spent a few days there and it was ok... be careful about rip offs in Vietnam - there are a good few.close

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by paul – posted on May 17, 2007

13

I wasn't impressed with the service given to us by the staff of the Hanoi Queen Hotel. I felt that other guests in the hotel were prioritized and it affected my Hanoi experience entirely. On the first day of our stay in Hanoi, we asked the hotel operator (ROSE) to please hire a...more I wasn't impressed with the service given to us by the staff of the Hanoi Queen Hotel. I felt that other guests in the hotel were prioritized and it affected my Hanoi experience entirely. On the first day of our stay in Hanoi, we asked the hotel operator (ROSE) to please hire a trust-worthy motorcycle driver to take us to our desired destination for the evening. She promptly assigned us to one of the hotel staff members (I think he was a relative of theirs who stayed in-house). We had asked for the rate for the motorcycle service prior to leaving the Hotel. Once we were taken to our destination that evening (we had requested to be taken to one restaurant), the driver jacked up the price by more than 300%! We were surprised and it had ruined our evening entirely. The next day, we had requested for the same motorcycle service and the hotel operator was giving us the same driver. We say NO THANK YOU right away. We were not impressed with the facilities of this hostel. The room had a cabinet for clothes but did not have a metal bar to put our hangers on. The cabinet was useless. Another thing we noticed was the bathroom door was partially made of glass. One could easily see the inside of the bathroom despite the tint on the glass. It did not provide privacy at all. By far the greatest offense the owner of this hostel did happened the day we were leaving Hanoi. There were two owners/operators of the hotel, DAVID and ROSE. Up until this point, it was ROSE who was paying attention to us. A few moments before leaving, DAVID had asked us to open our email, the email we used to book the hostel, the same email we used in correspondence with hostel world. Once we opened our private email, he immediately opened the hostel world comment email (this same email I am answering right now) and then started clicking the EXCELLENT button on all the headings! We felt violated! He was blatantly tampering this ratings sheet so his hostel could have an EXCELLENT rating! I would NOT RECOMMEND this hostel to other tourists/travellers. I was deeply disappointed with their service.close

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by francisfrederick – posted on Mar 29, 2007

3

Hanoi is not as hectic as you might think, in fact it's a welcome change of pace. Not the constant harrassment of the more tourist focussed areas, a polite no thank you is always accepted. An exceelent place to visit and the use as a base to explore other parts of Vietnam (Ha Long Bay,...more Hanoi is not as hectic as you might think, in fact it's a welcome change of pace. Not the constant harrassment of the more tourist focussed areas, a polite no thank you is always accepted. An exceelent place to visit and the use as a base to explore other parts of Vietnam (Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, etc.).close

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by cliffy8438 – posted on Mar 27, 2007

5

A very intense city and not somewhere we would personally stay for more than a few days. Hectic pace and very cramped. The buildings are very characterful and there are some very interesting parts in the old town. Its very much how we expected Bangkok to be. All in all worth a visit (but not an...more A very intense city and not somewhere we would personally stay for more than a few days. Hectic pace and very cramped. The buildings are very characterful and there are some very interesting parts in the old town. Its very much how we expected Bangkok to be. All in all worth a visit (but not an extended one).close

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by Steha – posted on Mar 16, 2007

4

Really loved the people. Very, very polite and kind. Feel very safe in this town. Loved navigating across the streets amongst the scooters. Street vendors do NOT hound you - which we really liked. Nice that there aren't plice and military out with guns as will find in many other parts...more Really loved the people. Very, very polite and kind. Feel very safe in this town. Loved navigating across the streets amongst the scooters. Street vendors do NOT hound you - which we really liked. Nice that there aren't plice and military out with guns as will find in many other parts of the world. A very laid back city.close

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by cardu4578 – posted on Mar 11, 2007

2

The food is great. No MacDonalds, Starbucks etc. If your in the old quarter, you must try 187 Hang Bong for food! It's not the liveliest place at night. Things pretty much close around 11 o'clock, but theres a few places to go to. I don't think it will appeal to everyone, as you...more The food is great. No MacDonalds, Starbucks etc. If your in the old quarter, you must try 187 Hang Bong for food! It's not the liveliest place at night. Things pretty much close around 11 o'clock, but theres a few places to go to. I don't think it will appeal to everyone, as you can pretty much see what you need to see in a few days before moving on.close

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by jimjam9688 – posted on Feb 26, 2007

10

Hanoi is a bustling Southeast Asia city with it's local markets and great shopping. You'll find streets and districts dedicated to certain products such as Silk, Masking Tape, or Locksmith. But that's all it was for us. And the people are nice. What many travellers agree is...more Hanoi is a bustling Southeast Asia city with it's local markets and great shopping. You'll find streets and districts dedicated to certain products such as Silk, Masking Tape, or Locksmith. But that's all it was for us. And the people are nice. What many travellers agree is that Hanoi has one of the worst noise pollution around. Everyone is either honking or yelling at something. Cars and Bikes ignore street signs and traffic lights. Instead they honk at every street corner to let others know of their location. Many travellers will have a hard time adapting to this and crossing the street is difficult. Do it like the Vietnamese. Start walking and the automobiles will go around you. And keep your eye contact with the driver. Surprisingly, in Asia, they don't drive all that fast. Around 80kmh at the most.close

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by rmizuk – posted on Feb 26, 2007

2

Both here and in Ho Chi Minh I felt people were out to rip you off constantly. Taxi drivers, tour operators and hotels all trying to get that little bit extra from you - its like tourism has arrived but they haven't quite told everyone what to do with it yet. It is a beautiful country and...more Both here and in Ho Chi Minh I felt people were out to rip you off constantly. Taxi drivers, tour operators and hotels all trying to get that little bit extra from you - its like tourism has arrived but they haven't quite told everyone what to do with it yet. It is a beautiful country and could be so fantastic.close

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by sufu – posted on Jan 13, 2007

60